Braiding-machine.



w. H. DUNK ERLE Y. 'BRAIDING MACHINE. .7 APPLICATION FILED JULY I4, 1914. I 1 188,741- PatentedJune 27, 1916.

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W. H. DUNKERLEY, BRMDING MACHINE. APPLICATION men JULY I4. 1914.

v 188,741 Patented June 27,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- tal section.- Fig. 3 is a plan View of the WILLIAM H. DUNKERLEY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

BRA'IDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed July 14, 1914. Serial No. 850,865.

To'aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, in the county of Passe-i0 and State .of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Braidlng- Machines, of which the following is a speci fication.

The invention relates to the manufacture of automobile tires and shoes and analogous annular articles having a continuous slit or opening along the inner circumferential face, and the main object of the invention is to provlde a machine by which such articles may be braided on an annular core in'the same form they assume in service. Another important ob ect 18 to provide means for producing a uniform selvage along each margin of such slit, and holding tions of a braidingmachine constructed in accordance with the invention. Flg. 2 1s a such selvage in place upon the core, and a further ob1ect 1s to provide means for 1ncorporating 1n such selvages strengthening or shape-retalning cords or wires, introduced during the braiding operation.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement by which the above objects areattained, to

corresponding plan view partly in horizon sel vage device alone, on a larger scale. Fig. 4; is

a .correspondingside elevation. Fig. 5 is a.

central vertical section taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3', and partly in elevat1on.'- Flg. 6 is a-corresponding plan viewof the under face. Fig. 7 is a front view. "Fig. s-isa'horizontal section through-a tire and'its remov-- able core, showing certain portions of'the selvage device in plan. view, scale. Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 9-?9 in Fig.- 8, showing-a detail. Fig. '10 is a side-elevation partly in vertical section, showing a] portion ing thejstrengthening wire to the selvage.-

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in'all the figures. V A is the bed or table of{ a braiding ma.- chine, only partially shown, equipped with dolls or braiding carriers B B in the ways a,

" ,and means, not shown, for traversingfthe H. DUN nm on a still larger ;the other as shown, with an'open space of the guide for deliver-' between them, and-each upper arm Gcarcarr'iers along their serpentine paths in such ways as usual. The bed is open in the center and has an opening or channel at A through which the completed annulus or tire and its core may be removed.

C is a collapsible annular form or core standing vertically in the central opening and channel with its inner limb centrally located at the braiding line and supported on grooved rollers A A below, one of which is driven by suitable mechanism, not shown, to revolve the core slowly 1n thedirection indicated by the arrow as the covering is braided thereon, and held in the upright position by a similar roller A above, yieldingly mounted in a housing A on a fixed bracket A,

and adapted to rise as the continuous braided coverings are successively applied and the tire or annulus correspondinglyincreases in size. The braiding carriers apply the covering M thereon except along a line on the inner circumferentialface, thus providing the usual narrow slit or opening for the insertion of an inner tube. Obviously the.

edges of such braidedfabric will not hug the core C during the process of manufacture unless maintained in position. while such edges or selvages are being braided. The device to be described thus vholdsthe selvages during their formation and also incorporates a cord or wire therewith by which the selvages are subsequently maintained.

A is an arm adjustably mounted on the bracket A? and extending downward alongside the core toward the braiding. line; it carries at its enda platforrnniade in-two portions E E "on the under face of which are pivoted two plates F- F each the coun terpart of the other and each having a seg- -mental toothed portion F presented toward the other. These segmental gears mesh with .a screw orworm- F between them, mounted in lugs on the portion F1 of the platform and provided" with a head F by which it may be turned to rotate the plates F and F partially and in opposite directions.

Each plate has apair of outwardly projecting arms G and H arranged one above ries 'a' vertically mounted spur-wheel (al having a series of sharp radial pins adapt ed to engage the selvage ofthe fabric at or a'little above the braiding line and hold their studs 9 g as the core with its covering is fed slowly upWa-rd at the braiding line,.

and the teeth remain engaged while the selvages are being formed, thus insuring the maintenance of their position on the core.

To guide the selvage threads and aid in laying them correctly in the fabric. at the braiding point, a post J is mounted at the center of each of the terminal islands A A of .the race-ways, around which the carriers pass successively in reversing their travel, and each post carries a rod, marked J and J 2 respectively, extending an'gularly up ward from its post, with its free end extending through the space f and presented adjacent to. one of the spur-wheels G near the braiding line of the selvage and serving as a guide for the marginal threads, which as the carriers traverse the terminals of the raceways, are received and slide upon the smooth surfaces of the rods and are delivered by the latter directly at the braiding point.

To strengthen the selvages and thicken the tire or shoe along such margins, heavy filaments areintroduced preferably in the form of wires N drawn from spools 0r reels, not shown, beneath the bed and each p ssing upwardly through one of the terminal islands A A, over a grooved pulley J mounted on the post J, thence alongside its rod J or J and through a tubular guide J near theend of such rod, passing beneath such end and under a grooved pulley or Wheel G on the inner face of the spurwheel G and thence to the fabric on the line of the selvage Where it is braided in or inv closed by the selvage threads.

In order to support the free end of each rod, such end lies upon a wheel H preferably grooved, each mounted below and at a slight distance within the inner face of the adjacent spur-wheel G so that outward strains tending to separate further the ends of the rods, due to the pull of the threads, are resisted by the contact of the rod-ends with the spur-wheels. The latter overlap the wheels H slightly but suflicient space between each spur-wheel G and its grooved Wheel H is provided to permit the threads to pass.

The two portions E and E of the platform are joined by a studbolt E extending through a vertical slot e ;in the lug E on the portion E into the lug E on -the portion E, so that by loose ning the bolt the portion E may be removed with its plate and wheels to permit the withdrawal of the tire and its core from the machine through the channel A in the table; and the rod J 2 is mounted in a rotatable head J on its post J, so that it may be swung outwardly out ofthe way when released by the removal of the portion E of the platform.

' By turning the worm F the plates F and F may be partially rotated and the pairs of Wheels G H and G H brought nearer together or farther separated as desired to correspond to the width of space desired'be- N N being similarly supplied and incor-.

porated. Suitable treatment with rubber and subsequent vulcanization produces a tire in which all the threads occupy exactly the positions assumed in the braiding operation, consequently all are subjected to uniform strains when the tire is inflated.

The wired selvages are extremely strong and Well adapted to be grasped and held by the wheel-rim.

Modifications may be made in the form and proportions of the various parts Without departing from the invention, and parts may be used without the whole. The wheels H may be omitted, depending upon the stiffness of the rods J J aided by the adjacent faces of the spur-wheels G to maintain them in the required positions. Any suitable means for supporting and rotating the core C may be employed. Instead of the wire N, a group or cord of small Wires or a cord of any suitable material may be employed.

I claim 1. In a braiding machine, a table havinga central opening and raceways partially encircling. such opening, braiding carriers in such raceways, means for supporting and rotating an annular core in such'opening, said carriers arrangedto braid anannulus upon said core with selvages on its inner face, means arranged to engage such selvages and hold the latter in place on said core during the braiding operation, and means terminating adjacent said first-named means for guiding the selvage threads and laying them in the fabric disengaged from said last-named means.

2. In a braiding machine, a table having a central opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, braiding carriers in such raceways, means for supporting and rotatlng an annular core 1n such opemng,

ation and means terminating adjacent said encircling such opening, braiding carriers" toothed means for guiding the selvage threads'and laying them in the fabric disengaged from said guiding means.

41 In a braiding machine, a table having aicentral openlng and raceways partially in such raceways, means for supporting and rota-tlng an annular core 1n such openmg,

said carriersarranged to braid an annulus upon sald core with selvages on 1ts lnn'er.

face, rotatable toothed means adapted to engage such selvages and hold theJlatter in place on said core during the braiding operation, and means for adjusting said toothed means and thereby varying the distance between said selvages.

5. In a bra dlng machlne, a table having a central opening and raceways' partially-- encirchng such openlng, braidmg CaIIlB-IS 1n such raceways, means'for supportlng and rotating an annular core in such opening,

said carriers arranged to braid an annulus upon saidcore with selvages on its lnner face a an of s ur-wheels each ada ted to a p p engage one of said selvages and hold the latter against separation from each other during the braiding operationand means terminating adjacent said spur-wheels for guiding the selvage threads and laying them in the fabric disengaged from said guiding means.

6. In a bra1 a central" opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, braiding carriers in such raceways, means for supporting'and rotating an annular core in such opening, said carriers arranged to braid an. annulus upon said core with selvage's on. its inner face, means adapted to engage such selvages andhold the latter. in place on said core during the braiding operation, and means for guid ng the selvage threadsfromsald carriers to the braiding line and means 'on saidguiding, means for supportingand guiding a selvage reinforcing element. 7 In a braiding machine, a tablehavmg a central opening and raceways. partially} encircling such opening, braiding carriers' in' such raceways, means for supporting .andfj ;ing a central opening and raceways par tially encircling such opening, braiding carrotating an annular core in such opening, said carrlers arranged tobraldan annulus upon said core with selvages "on itsfin'ner' face, means adapted to engagesuch selvages. and hold the latter'in-jplace 0n fsaldlibofe' during the braiding operation,"jand means for guiding the selvag' threads and aselvage' reinforcing element; 1,:-

i during the braiding operation,

ding machine, a table having inner face, .a platform, plates pivotally .inounted ther'eon, each of said plates having 8. In a braiding machine, a table having a central opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, braiding carriers in 'such raceways, means for supporting and-rotating an annular core in such open 70.

ing, said carriers arranged to braid anannulus upon said core with. selvages .on its inner face, a pair of ,spurwheels each adapted to engage one of said selvages and hold said selvages against separation from {(5 each other during the braidlng operation, and means for adjustingv said spur-wheels and thereby varying the distance between said selvages.

9. In a braiding machine, a table having a central opening and raceways-partially encircling such opening, braidingcarriers in such raceways, means for supporting and rotating an annular core in such opening, said carriersari anged-to braid an annulus upon said core with selvages on its inner face, a platform, plates pivotally mounted thereon, each of saidplates having a toothed segment, a worm in mesh with sald segm'ents, arms on said plates, and spur-wheels on said arms adapted toengage said selvages and hold the latter in place on said core 1-0. In a braiding mach'ne, a table having acentral opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, braiding carriers in such. raceways, means forsupporting and rotating an annular core in such opening, said carriers arranged to braid an annulus upon said core with selvages 'on'its inner face, ad- 109 justable means arranged to engage such selvag es and hold the latter in place on said core during the braiding operation, and rods extending from the terminals of such' raceway to the braiding line for-guiding 19 the selvage threads. i

11. In a braiding mach'ine,ia table having a central opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, b-raidingIcarriers in such raceways, means for supporting and rotating an annular core in such opening, 7

' said carriers arranged to. braid an annulus upon said core with selvages on its inner face, means arranged to engage such selvages and hold the latter in'plac e on said core during the braiding operation, rods extending from the terminals of such race-Y waysto the braiding line for guiding the.-'

selvage threads, and means for swinging- T one ofsa1d' rods to perturb the removal of saidcore and annulus.

' 12. In a braiding machine, a table havriers in such raceways, means for support- ,ing. and rotating an annular core in such opening, said carriers arranged to braid an annulus uponsald core with selvages on its a toothed segment, a worm in mesh with said. segments, arms on said plates, and spur-wheels on said arms adapted to engage said selvages and hold the latter in place on said core during the braiding operation, said-platform comprised of two portions one which is removable to permit the remoyal of said core and annulus.

13. In a braiding machine, a table having a central opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, braiding carriers in such raceways, -means for supporting and rotating an annular core in such opening, said carriers arranged to braid an annulus upon said core .With selvages on its inner face, -aplatform, plates pivotally mounted thereon, each of said plates having a toothed segment, a worm iu'mesh' with said segments, arms on said plates, spurewheels on said arms adapted to engage said selvages and hold the latter in place onsaid core during the braiding operation, said platform comprised of two portions one of which is removable to permit the removal of said core and annulus, posts set in the terminal islands of such racewaly, rods mounted on said posts and extending to said spur-wheels at the braiding line, and

'Wheels adjacent to and below said spur Wheels arranged to serve therewith in supporting the free ends of said rods.

14. In a braiding machine, atable having a central opening and raceways partially encircling such opening, braiding carriers in such raceways, means rotating an annular core in such opening, said carriers arranged to braid an annulus upon said core with selvages on its inner face, means arranged to engage such selvages and hold the latter core during the braiding operation, a post set in one of the terminal islands of such raceway, a rotatable head on said post and a rod extending from said headtfi th braid l l ing line on said core,

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM H. DUNKERLEY.

Witnesses: v

CHARLES R. SEARLE, LILLIAN H. WI'L'sHUsEN.

for supporting and in place on said 40 

